Remotely set marking system and apparatus therefor



March 12, 1963 D. F. STAUB ETAL 3,080,813

REMOTELY SET MARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1960 9Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORJ, JdWd/J 55 d 21;.

H Zia/4767 72 K4712 4772 March 12, 1963 D. F. STAUB ETAL REMOTELY SETMARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet2 REMOTELY SET MARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1960March 12, 1963 D. F. STAUB ETAL 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 12, 1963 D. F.STAUB ETAL REMOTELY SET MARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed NOV.22, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 12, 1963 D. F. STAUB ETAL 3,

REMOTELY SET MARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1960 9Sheets-Sheet 5 OOOOO-OOOOO E- r1 jam/1 March 12, 1963 D. F. STAUB ETAL3,030,813

REMOTELY SET MARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22, 1960 9Sheets-Sheet 6 i 9 g; :1 by U251 37 0 0 5 3000090000 m i I V f 000 O O 0O0 INVE TORAS. 207747; XJ azzZ E J. Z 461/ 471 wfiflzfijm March 12, 1963D. F. STAUB ETAL 3,080,813

REMO' I'ELY SET MARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22,1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 am, op zn March 12, 1963 D. F. STAUB ETAL REMOTELYSET MARKING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov.22, 1960 KHZ/sf March 12, 1963 D. F. STAUB ETAL REMOTELY SET MARKINGSYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 22, 1960INVENT R6 Z51 Z0774]; 7. 674212 tem are virtually unlimited in number.

United States Patent 3,080,813 :REMGTELY SET- MARKING SYSTEM .AND

APPARATUS THEREFOR ':,D.onald;F. Stanb,1326 Cedar Drive,Birminghamfitdich,

The present invention relates toa unique system for determiningcharacteristics of an article and directlymarkingupon such articleindicia representing thedetermined characteristics thereof, and inaddition, novel'remotely set marking -.apparatus'for use in conjunctionwith this .system and forming a part thereof.

This invention, in its broader aspects, is concerned with-theprovisionof a system comprising two re motely located fixed stations,conveyormeans for trans- :porting an article to the first station,sensing and recordingmeans at the first station for determining andrecording or holding information representing characteristics of anarticle thereat, conveyor means fortransporting this article to thesecond station, and marking means at the second station'for directlymarking upon the article indicia representing the information recordedat the first station. As will be apparent, the practical applications ofsuch a sys- For example, the present invention may be embodied in asystem for determining the weight of an article and directly'markingupon such article indicia, such as printed numbers, representing theweight thereof. The system disclosed herein is-directed to just such anapplication, but is not limited thereto. Instead of weight, otherdeterminable characteristics may be readily accommodated by the presentsystem, such as, for example, height, length, width, volume, color,electrical resistance, electrical capacitance, pressure, temperature,and so on, as willbe appreciated.

The present invention is also characterized by the provision of a novelremotely set marking apparatus, several exemplary embodiments of whichare disclosed herein.

' This marking apparatus, while having primary application beforeitindicia representing such information. In the embodiments disclosedherein such indicia are marked upon an article by printing operations,however, as will be appreciated, other alternate marking operations maybe erformed such as, for example, wood burnin etch- 5 a ing, embossing,stenciling, and so on.

As. noted above, for exemplary purposes the present .system and markingapparatus as disclosed herein are embodied in a system fordeterminingand printing upon an article the weight thereof. Insofar asthis particular application is concerned, most well known presentlyavailable equipment for performing this function does not directly markindicia upon articles, but uses the intermediary of apapertape or thelike. Thus, these devices print the indicia upon a paper tape which thenmust be afiixed to the article. 'For obvious reasons, the use. of anintermediary such as paper tape greatly complicates the markingprocedure, increasing both the costsinvolved as wellas the time requiredto mark a single article. Furthermore, most known equipmentis relativelycomplex in designand in most cases is rather large and bulky. Inaddition, the flexibility of these devices is extremely limited sincethey are designed for the single purpose of marking indicia only ppon apaper, tape or'thelike, and

not directly upon various types and sizesof articles.

Patented Mar. 12, E953 With regard to equipment which is capable ofdirectly marking an article, one very significant disadvantage usuallyexists. For example, such equipment generally does .not includeinformation recording means, and therefore ,is not capable of remoteoperation.

Therefore, in a weighing application the acticle must be marked while itis still resting on the delicate platform of the weighing scale. Whenmarking is effected by stamping the article with a rubber stamp or thelike, the delicate apparatus within the weighing scale is given a severejolt during the marking operation, thus greatly reducing the accuracyand operating life thereof. Furthermore, such equipment lacksflexibility in application because the markingmust always be done at theweighing scale, and this is often not feasible Where awkard types andsizes of articles are being processed.

It is thereforea primary object of the present invention to provide anextremely flexible system for determining 'sturdy and compactconstruction for directly marking upon an article indicia representinginformation remotely determined and recorded upon multiple positionelectrical switch means, which apparatus is extremely flexible in thenumber and type of applications to which it is suited.

Yet another object of the present invention involves the provision of aunique marking apparatus for printing or otherwise marking directly uponan article information determined and recorded at a remote location,which apparatus has an extremely quick response time and is soconstructed that it may be mounted in practically any position todirectly mark articles of varying sizes, types and shapes.

Yet a further object of this invention relates to the provision of anovel system comprising in combination means defining a fixed sensingstation, means for transferring articles to the sensing station, sensingand recording eans at the sensing station for determining and recordingcharacteristics of the article thereat, a remotely located markingstation, means for transporting an article from the sensing station tothe marking station, and means at the marking station for marking uponan article thereat indicia representing the information recorded at thesensing station. A related object resides in the provision of means forlocking the sensing and/or recording means until the information sensedand recorded thereby has been transferred to the marking means and usedto set the latter for marking such information upon the article whosecharacteristic is represented thereby, and means for re-setting andreleasing the sensing and/orrecording means after the marking means hasbeen set.

Another object thereof resides in the provision of a unique system forautomatically printing directly upon articles indicia representing thedetermined characteristics thereof, which system includes a printingapparatus of extremely novel and efiicient design. A related object isconcerned with the provision of an extremely practical embodiment ofsuch asystem for determining and printing upon an article theweightthereof.

It isa further object of this invention to provide a fully automaticprintingapparatus of novel construction utilizing'a plurality ofprinting wheels, wherein there areprovided unique means for setting andfor inking the printing wheels in an extremely fastand elficent manner.

These anclother objects of the present. invention will bep the inventionby way of example, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a weighing system embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a slightly modified weighingsystem embodying the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view partly in section of a first embodimentof a remotely set marking apparatus embodying the principles of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 4- is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, withthe cover removed;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line5--5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takensubstantially along line 6-6.in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 77 in FIGURE '6;

FIGURES 8 through 13 are diagrammatic views illustrating the sequence ofoperation of the first embodiment;

FIGURE 14 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating one type ofelectrical circuit which may be utilized in a system of the presentinvention;

FIGURES 15 and 16 are diagrammatic perspective views partly in sectionof a second embodiment of a rethe present invention, illustrating thestructure and sequence of operation thereof;

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the essentialstructure of a third embodiment of a remotely set marking apparatusconstructed according to the principles of the present invention; and

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 18-18 in FIGURE 17.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURES l and 2 illustrate two practicalembodiments of the system of the present invention. It is the basicfunction of these embodiments to determine the weight of successivelypresented filled cartons or containers, and then to directly print uponeach container the weight thereof. One specific application of such asystem would be in a meat packing plant, wherein cartons filled withdifferent types and/ or weights of meat must be weighed and properlymarked with such weight for determining the selling price of eachcarton, and the like. Of course, it will be appreciated that there existmany other similar applications for which the present system would bereadily adapted.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a conventional weighingscale 10 comprising a base 12 having suspended thereon a weighingplatform 14 across which a conveyor belt 16 travels. Weighing scale 10is also provided with a visual read-out indicator 18 as well aselectrical read-out means 20, the latter being provided with a pluralityof multiple position electrical read-out switches adapted to be set torepresent the weight of an article on the scale, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter. The read-out switches are thus used as recordingmeans. A carton or box 22 is shown disposed on the weighing platform 14of the scale, in a position to be weighed. At one side of the weighingscale 10 there is disposed a suitable conventional conveyor 24-, whichmay be either power driven or gravity operated, for transmitting cartons22 or the like to the weighing scale. At the opposite side of theweighing scale there is provided a second conveyor 25 of a generallysimilar type. At the far end of conveyor 25 there is provided inalignment with the weighing scale a remotely set marking apparatus,generally indicated at 26. The marking apparatus 26, in itself, forms apart of the present invention, and three embodiments thereof will befully described hereinafter. To electrically interconnect the markingapparatus and weighing scale there is provided a suitable conduit 28through which the required interconnecting circuitry may pass.

On one side of conveyor 25 and parallel thereto there .ThIS descnption1s, of course, only general at this polnt,

is provided a further conveyor 30 of ordinary construction adapted toreceive cartons or the like pushed transversely from conveyor 25 bymeans of a suitable ram device 32. While the three conveyors areillustrated as being of the power type, such is not essential, and ifdesired they may be gravity operated, or even have belts thereon insteadof rollers, the particular transporting means utilized in this inventionnot being limited to any specific conveyor construction.v

Generally speaking, the operation of this particular system is asfollows. A filled carton 22 will travel along conveyor 24 until itreaches weighing scale It whereupon conveyor belt 16 will engage thebottom of the carton to transport it onto the weighing platform 14. Whenthe carton is properly centered upon the weighing platform a imitswitch, such as at 34, will be tripped by the carton to stop themovement of the conveyor belt 16. The weighing scale then senses theweight of the filled carton, indicating it usually upon indicator 18 andrecording it electrically upon a plurality of multiple positionelectrical read-out switches forming a part of read-out means 20, aswill be more fully described hereinafter. The read-out means 20 willthen be locked until marking wheels in the marking apparatus 26 are set,whereupon the carton will be transported off the weighing scale byconveyor belt 16 and into an abutting relationship with the markingapparatus 26 by conveyor 25. While the carton 22 is being sotransported, the scale and read-out means may be reset to zero, ready toreceive the next carton. The marking apparatus will then mark upon theend of carton 22 the weight thereof, after which the marking apparatuswill be reset to zero. The ram device 32 will then push the carton ontothe conveyor 30 which will transport it to wherever desired. In themeantime the next carton will have been transported onto the weighingscale to repeat the cycle.

for purposes of introduction, and will be thorougly amplifiedhereinafter.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a slightly modifiedembodiment of the present system. The respective parts of this systemwhich are identical to those in the previous embodiment are indicated bylike reference numerals primed. This embodiment differs only in that ramdevice 32 and conveyor 25 have been omitted and conveyor 3t) displacedtransversely into longitudinal alignment with conveyor 24 and conveyorbelt 16. In addition, the marking apparatus has been mounted aboveconveyor 30 for marking upon the top of a carton 22, rather than uponthe end thereof. Thus, in this embodiment a straight line flow ofcartons may be achieved, with a resultant simplification of the materialhandling apparatus. Alternately, the marking apparatus may be positionedin the same plane as the carton to be marked, for marking upon the sidesof the carton rather than the top or end thereof. As will beappreciated, the marking apparatus is so constructed that it may bemounted in any desired position, depending on the size and shape of thearticle to be marked and the type of material handling apparatus whichis used. The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2 isexactly the same as the operation of the embodiment illustrated inFIGURE 1.

In FIGURES 3 through 7 there is illustrated in detail. a firstembodiment of a marking apparatus 26' forming a part of the presentinvention. The over-all function of marking apparatus 26 should beapparent in light of the above description of the entire system of thepresent invention. Broadly speaking, the first embod'ment comprises aplurality of printing wheels mounted upon a reciprocating carriage forreciprocation to a position wherein the printing wheels project from oneend of the marking apparatus housing to print upon an article thereat,whatever information the printing wheels have been set to print. In thisembodiment the apparatus is so ar ranged that the printing wheels areactually set to the proper position by the advancing movement of thecarriage on which they are rotatably mounted. This] is.

achieved basically byallowing the printing wheels'to turn The firstembodiment of the present invention comprises a generally rectangularbase plate 36 having end walls 38 and 4%} extending upwardly therefromand adapted to receive in flush engagement a cover 42 to define ahousing for the markingapparatus. To reinforce the structure there areprovided a reinforcing bracket 44, between end wall 38 and base platess, and a pair of reinforcing rods 46 and 48 between end walls 38 and40. Forward end wall 40 is provided with a rectangular opening 4-9through which the printing wheels may pass to print indicia upon anarticle disposed adiacent the outer face of the end wall.

Disposed within the housing is a carriage defined by mounting plates 5tand 52, each having a pair of downwardly extending bearing members 54and 56 slidably mounted upon supporting rods 58 and '60, respectively,each of which is supported upon base plate 36 by means of a pair ofmounting members d2 and 64 at each end thereof. To reinforce thecarriage there is provided a horizontal mounting bracket 66 afiixed tomounting plates 5% and 52 and extending therebetween at the upper edgethereof. Also disposed between mounting plates 54} and '52 is a drivingshaft 63 which may beheld in place for rotation by means of a pair ofsplit rings affixed to the outer ends thereof.

At the rearward end of the housing there is provided an electric motor70, secured to base plate 36 by means of mounting block 72 and providedat one end with a gear reducing drive '74 having proiecting therefrom ahorizontal drive shaft 76*. Rigidly secured to drive shaft 76 is a crankarm 78 having pivotally secured to the outer end thereof a connectingrod 80 including a hollow sleeve 82 having a slot $4 therein. Disposedwithin sleeve 82 is a compression spring (not shown) and a drivingmember 06 rigidly secured at its outer end to driving shaft 68. Thecompression spring within sleeve 32 is 1 maintained in compression bythe abutment thereagainst of one end of driving member 85, the latterbeing provided with a laterally extending pin 88 extending through slot34- and being held in place by a pair of split rings. As will beappreciated, when electric motor 70 is energized the rotation of crankarm 73 will cause the carriage to reciprocate upon supporting rods 53and as. The compression spring within sleeve82 serves as shock absorbingmeans so that when the carriage is fully advanced and the printingwheels are urged against a carton, the

drive linkage will yield sufliciently to provide the proper affixedthereto in consecutive order printing type for print- I ing numerals 0through 9. The type may be secured to the printing wheels in anysuitable manner, preferably by. means of a detachable connection so thatthe replacement'of worn out type and substitution of type for differentindicia will be readily facilitated. Each of the printing wheels 92through 98 is provided with a driving gear, 1%, 192, 164 and 106respectively, rigidly secured thereto. The shaft 9% is rigidly securedto mounting plates 50 and 52 in a non-rotatable-manner, and theassociated driving gears and printing wheels are rotatably mountedthereon. Between driving wheels 96 and 98is provided aforwardlyextending element 108 rigidly secured at one end upon'shaft 9t)and provided at the outerend thereof with suitable printing typerepresenting ,a decimalpoint. This arrangement, is, of course, op

chine screws and 1 2 2', respectively.

.6 tional as the decimal. point maybe. provided in any other POSlllOl1,,0I1 shaft.9,6 or omitted entirely, depending on theparticularapplication in which the apparatus-is to be .used. 'To centerthe driving gears vand printing wheels tirliashaft 9.6 there isPIOvideda pair of-sp'acers 110 and Also disposedbetween mounting plates 50 and52 is a second shaft 114 mounted for non-rotating movement by meansofcollars 116 and 118 which are secured to the opposite ends of shaft 114by means of set screws and to mounting plates 50 and 52, respectively,by means of ma- 7 Rotatably mounted upon shaft 114 are. a plurality ofdriving wheels 12 4, 126, .128 and 130. Each of the driving wheels isspring biased in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIG- URE 5, bymeans of a flat coil spring 132, secured at one end to its associateddrive wheel by means of a machine screw 134- and at the other end to acollar 13 6 fixedly mounted on shaft 114 by means of a set screw. Properspacing of the respective elements on shaft 114 is llaeyvided by meansof suitable spacers, such asat'138 and Bach of the driving Wheels 124through are identical, and may be best seen in FIGURE 5 wherein drivingwheel 13% is clearly illustrated. Each of the driving wheels is providedwith a plurality of gear teeth 142 about a portion of the circumference,as shown, these teeth intermeshing with the teeth on the associateddriving gear to drive'the latter and the printing wheels securedthereto. The toothed portion 142 on each driving wheel should be atleast as long in arcuate length as the maximum angular displacement ofeach driving wheel, as will be more apparent hereinafter. Each drivingwheel is also provided with a second toothed portion 144 oppositetoothed portion 142, but of substantially the same arcuate length. Theteeth on portion 144, are not gear teeth. but are ratchet teeth.Radially projecting from each driving wheel and rigidly secured theretoin anysuitable manner is a follower arm 145' having pivotally secured tothe outer free end thereof a roller follower 143. A

Affixed to base plate 36, by beans of screws or the like, are aplurality of limit switches 15%, each of which s provided with a triparm 152dIsposed in the planeof rotation of one of the roller followers148 and adapted to be activated thereby. Thus, as best seen in FIGURE 5,when the carriage'is in the fully retracted position each rollerfollower 148 is urged against its associated limit switch 156 by thetorsional force in the clockwise direction of each of the respectivecoil springs 136. As will be apparent, when the carriage advances thecoil springs will continue to maintainthe' roller followers in contactwith the limit switches so that the-drive wheels will rotate, to therebyrotate the printingwheels. Similarly, when the carriage is retractedfrom the advanced position, the engagement of roller followers 143 withtheir respective limit switches 15% will cause the respective printingwheels to rotate in the opposite direction, to be reset.

In order to lock the driving wheelsduring the forward advancing movementof the carriage, there are provided a plurality-of solenoids 154,156,158 and 166, each of which is rigidly secured to mounting bracket-66in longitudinal alignment with one of the driving wheels. Each of thesolenoids is provided with areciprocating plunger d62 having abifurcated free end portion forreceiving m aprvotal relationshipadownwardly extending link 164. Each of the links-164 ispivotallysupported upon a transversely extending shaft 166, securedat its outerends to mounting plates Sit and 52 respectively. At the-lower terminalendof eachof the links 164 thereis provided a pawl 168- adapted toengagethe ratchet teeth 144 on the associated driving wheel, to arrestthe-rota tional movement of the latter. Sincethe solenoids are normallynot energized the pawls 1 68 are normally retracted awayfrorn theratchet teeth on the driving wheels, the retracted position of pawlslfiSjbei ng limited by a during the advancing movement of the carriage.

transversely extending stop member 170 which abuts the rear edge oflinks 164 in the manner illustrated. To

maintain the links and pawls in this retracted position,

there are provided a plurality of tension springs 172, one for each link164, these springs being secured at oneend to a link 164 and at theother end to a transversely extending mounting rod 174. Both stop member170* and mounting rod 174 may be secured at the outer ends thereof tomounting plates 50 and 52 in any suitable manner. As will now beapparent, means are provided for stopping the rotational movement of theprinting wheels This is achieved with respect to printing wheel 98, forexample, by energizing solenoid 160 at the point in time during theadvancing movement of the carriage when the type representing theindicia to be printed by printing wheel 9% is in the horizontalforwardly projecting positon. In other words, the printing wheel isallowed to rotate or index until the proper type is presented forprinting, at which time the solenoid is actuated to arrest the rotationor indexing movement to set the printing wheel.

Consideration will now be given to the manner in which the solenoids areactivated at the proper time to set the printing wheels. Generallyspeaking, each solenoid serves to set a single printing wheel so thatthe proper numeral for printing is displayed, in this embodiment thenumeral representing one digit in the number representing the Weight ofthe article being marked, as determined by the weighing scale. Ofcourse, any other type of symbol or indicia may also be printed, ifdesired. Basically, each solenoid forms part of a series circuitcomprising two IO-position switches, one position for each digit of theprinting wheel. Each of the IO-position switches has each of itscontacts electrically interconnected to the corresponding contact in theother Ill-position switch. Thus, the first position contacts in each ofthe switches are electrically interconnected, the second positioncontacts are interconnected, the third position contacts areinterconnected, and so on. Accordingly, current will flow in a circuitcomprising these interconnected switches, only when both switches areset to the same position. For each. printing wheel and solenoid there isprovided a separate such circuit, and in each such circuit one of theswitches is located within the marking apparatus while the other formspart of the read-out means 20, the latter switch being, in effect, areadout switch. Thus, for each digit in the numeral to be printed thereis provided a separate such circuit. In operation, the scale operates toset the readout switch to a position which represents the numeral whichthe corresponding printing wheelshould print. Then the carriage withinthe marking apparatus starts its advancing movement, during which timethe corresponding 10-position switch therein scans each of itsconsecutive 10 contacts as each of the numerals on the associatedprinting wheel are consecutively presented for printing. When the 10-position switch within the marking apparatus reaches the position whichis the same as the position of the corresponding readout switch, thecircuit containing the solenoid for the associated printing'wheel isclosed, thus energizing the solenoid to set the printing wheel to thedesired position, with the numeral presented for printing beingrepresented by the position of the associated readout switch. Forexample, considering the setting of only a single digit, if the weightof the article on the scale was determined to be 9 lbs., then theweighingscale would set the readout switch to the 9th position. Theprinting wheel would then be rotated through its consecutive positionswhile at the same time causing the 10-position switch within the markingapparatus to scan its consecutive positions, the circuit being soarranged that when this latter switch reaches its 9th position thecircuit will close to cause the solenoid to set the printing wheel,-"nowin a position ready to print the numeral '91 This principle of operationis identical to that of the I masts 8 second embodiment of the markingapparatus, and is very similar to that of the third embodiment thereof.Of course, any number and kind of indicia may be marked by all of theseembodiments.

In the first embodiment, rotation of the printing wheels is effected bythe advancing movement of the carriage. Accordingly, the apparatus is soarranged that the ad- "vancing movement of the carriage also causes themultiple position switches therein to simultaneously scan theirconsecutive positions. Thus, there are provided a pinrality of multiplecontact switch elements 176, 178,

and 182, for printing wheels 92 through 98, respectively. 7

Each of the switch elementsis formed of a suitable nonconductingmaterial and is rigidly secured to base plate 36 in substantiallylongitudinal alignment with the printing wheel with which it isassociated. Since the apparatus associated with each printing Wheel isidentical, only that associated with printing wheel 98 will be discussedhere. Switch element 182 is provided with a plurality of contacts 184,in this embodiment it) in number, or one for each numeral on printingWheel 92%.

- For each switch element there is provided a downwardly extendingcontact element or brush 186 afdxed at its upper end to a block 188 ofsuitable insulating material secured to a transversely extending bracket190 supported, by means of suitable screws, between mounting plates 50and 52. As can be seen, the advancing movement of the carriage willcause brush 186 to scan consecutive contacts 184. In this embodiment,these contacts 184- are so arranged on switch element 182 that brush 186engages the rearmost contact 184 when numeral 0 is presented forprinting, the second from the rearmost contact when numeral 2 ispresented, the third from the rearmost contact when numeral 3 ispresented, and so on until the brush engages the most forward contact,at which time numeral 9 will be presented for printing. In this regard,it will be observed that the spaces between adjacent contacts 134 aregreater toward the center of the row of contacts than they are at theend of the row. This spacing is to compensate for the fact that, becauseof the manner in which the printing wheels are rotated, there occurs agreater angular'displacement of the printing wheels per unit of distancetraveled by the carriage at the ends of its stroke than at the center ofits stroke, as should be readily apparent. Alternate multiple positionswitch constructions may, of course, be used. For example, switchelements 176 through 182 may be replaced by a single horizontallydisposed flat plate, formed of insulating material and provided with aplurality of longitudinally disposed rows of contacts, one row for eachprinting wheel. Brushes 186 would then be slightly modified to properlyengage these contacts. Such an arrangement would function in exactly thesame manner as the one illustrated.

In FIGURES 3 through 7 the wiring of the apparatus has been omitted sothat the various details of construction may be more clearlyillustrated, however the circuitry required will be discussed in detailhereinafter. To facilitate the actual wiring of brushes 186 with theircorresponding solenoids there is provided a terminal bracket 192,mounted on the upper surface of bracket 1%. In addition, adjacent therearward vertical edge of mounting plate 50, there is provided a limitswitch 193 secured to base plate 36 by a suitable bracket and providedwith a trip arm 199 adapted to engage the rearward vertical edge of themounting plate. Limit switch 193 is held in an open position when thecarriage is in its fully retracted position, and is adapted to closewhen the carriage starts its forward movement. There is also providedanother limit switch 1% adjacent the forward face of end wall til, whichlimit switch may be mounted upon any suitable support member. Limitswitch 195 is normally open, and is adapted to be closed by the abutmentthereagainst of an article or carton to be marked, when the latteris-positioned adjacent opening 4'9. If desired,

limit'switch 195 maybe mountedwithin themarking apparatus housing,suchas upon base plate'36 with a plunger projecting through a suitablylocated aperture in end wall 40 to be engaged by an article in aposition to be marked. An electrical socket 197 is provided in end wall38 to provide means for electrically interconnecting the markingapparatus with the remainder of the system.

At this point the general operation of the marking apparatus should beapparent. However, in order that the printing wheelsmay actually printindicia upon an article or carton there must be provided means forinking the printing wheels, and in this embodiment this inking isachieved in a very unique manner. Thus, there are pr'ov-ided a pair ofvertically extending brackets 194 and 'ljddisposed parallel to andspaced from mounting plates 50 and 52, respectively, and secured to baseplate'36 by means of screws or the like. Brackets 194 and 196 havemounted thereonpivot pins 198 and 12% respectively to which arepivotally secured generally horizontally extending links'2ii2 and 2%respectively. There are also pivotally supported upon pivot pins 1% and2% generally downwardly.extending.v cam links 26-6 and 265%,respectively. Also mounted upon pivot pins 198 and 200 are suitablespacers 267' and 299. Each of the cam links has a cam surface 210 alongthe rearward lower edge thereof, as bestseen inFIGURE 6. Pivotallysecuredto the outer free :ends of links 2ti2-and 2% are inverted.L-shaped brackets 212 and 214 respectively, each having a generallyhorizontally extending leg port-ion and a depending leg portion. As bestseen in FIGURE 7 there is positioned between the depending legs of thetwo -L-shaped brackets a channel-shaped member 216, sejcured to theL-shaped'brackets by means of angle brackets 218 and 220. Detachablysecured to the rearward face of channel member216 is, an ink pad 222 ofconventional construction. .Ink pad 222 maybe mounted by means of screws$224 to facilitate convenient removal and replacement .whenthe ink padbecomes worn out. Also pivotallysecurcdto L-shaped brackets 212 and 214are links 226'and 22$ which are pivotally secured at their opposite endsto cam links 206 and 2&8, respectively. On the inside-surface 'of-link226 there is provided a roller follower23ti andon the inside surface oflink 22% there is provided a roller follower 232, for purposes as willbecome apparent hereinafter. Links 226 and 223 are also providedadjacent their forward ends with stop pins 234..and 236, respectively,adapted to engage the rearward edge of the depending leg of L-shapedbrackets .212 and 214, respectively. To limit the downwardpivotalrnovernent :of the-articulated linkage supporting the ;ink--pad,:brackets194and 1% are provided with stop pins 238 and 249,respectively, adapted to abut the rearward: surfaces of cam links 2% and208, respectively. Tourge the cam links into this position there areprovided a pair of tension springs'242 and 24 secured at one end.tolinks 206 and 26-3, respectively, and at the other end-to mountingscrews 246 and 248, respectively, 'on brackets 1941and 1%, respectively,as best seen in FIGURE 4.

:As will be appreciated, FIGURES 3 through 7 illus- .trate thisembodiment in the fully retracted position. Since this is the normalinoperative position of the apparatus,'it is desirable that means heprovided to keep :opening 49 closed to prevent dirt and otherundesirable contaminants from passing therethrough when the markingapparatus is not being used, aswell as between print ing strokes. Forthis purpose there is provided a closure plate 250 providedwith aninwardly extending flange portioni252 at the upper edge thereof andmounted for vertical-movementalong-the rearward face of end wall -40 ;bymeans of channel members 254 and 256. As will bemore;fullyqdescribedhereinafter, closure plate 250 is "raised above-opening 49 bytheabutment; of the hori- :zon-tallyextending legs of the L-shaped brackets212 and t';214;- agains-t jtlange 252 when the ink-pad is; raised out'not re-ink the printing wheels.

.of theway. Tobias the closure plate 25d and flange 252 downwardlyagainst the L-shaped brackets, there are provided a pair of tensionsprings 258 and 264 each attached at its lower end to base plate 35 andat its upper end to closure plate 250. As will be appreciated, bothsprings 258 and 26%, and springs 242 and 244 serve to quickly lower theclosure plate and ink pad when the carriage is fully retracted. Thisfunction is particularly significant when the apparatus is rapidlycycling, to prevent any lost motion in the ink pad articulated linkagearrangement.

This embodiment is provided with a very unique cam arrangement forraising and lowering the ink pad 222.

For operating the ink pad during the advancing stroke of the carriagethere are provided a pair of roller followers 262 and 264 rotatablymounted upon mounting plates 56 and 52., respectively, by means ofadjustable brackets 256 and 268, respectively. Roller followers 262. and

7 her in which the articulated linkage associated with the ink pad isoperated will be more fully described herein- 1 after.

To prevent wear and tear on the ink pad, as Well as on the printingwheels, additional means are provided for lowering the ink pad assemblyin such a way that it does To this end, there are provided a pair ofidentically shaped cam elements 276 and 272, mounted for pivotalmovement upon mounting plates 5t? and 52, respectively, by means ofbrackets 2'74 and 276 respectively, as best seen in FIGURE 6. Camelements 279 and 272 are spring biased in the counterclockwisedirection, as seen in FIGURE 6, by means of tension springs 278, securedat their lower ends to te respective cam elements and at their upperends to the respective brackets 274 and 27 The heads of machine screws12s and E22 serve as stop means to prevent further counter-clockwiserotation of the respective cam elements. To limit the clockwiserotational movement of the cam elements there are provided a pair ofstop pins 28% and 2-82, secured to mounting plates 5% and 52,respectively.

The sequence of operation of this first embodiment may be most easilyunderstood by reference to FIGURES 8 through 13, wherein the apparatusis diagrammatically illustrated in consecutive positions during itsnormal operating cycle. The description in conjunction with thesefigures will be limited to the operation of the apparatus from themechanical standpoint, the necessary circuitry required being more fullydescribed hereinafter. In addition, the operation of only one printingwheel will be considered, to simplify the explanation.

In FIGURE 8 the apparatus is illustrated in the fully retractedposition, wherein brush 1% is positioned just beyond the rearmostcontact 184, limit switch 193 is held open, solenoid 169 is notenergized, cam elements 279 and 272 are in their fully counter-clockwiseposition, limit switch lldtl is held unactivated by roller followers M8,printing Wheel 98 is presenting numeral 9 for printing, and the ink padand the closure plate 25-22 are in their fully lowered positions.

For purposes of explanation, assume that the weight to be printed byprinting wheel 98 is 4 lbs, and that the apparatus has its operatingcycle initiated, causing shaft '76 to start rotating in thecounter-clockwise direction. As described above, a weight of 4 lbs. willhave caused the readout means 2%? of the weighing scale to set thereadout switch in the circuit of printing wheel 98 to its 4th position,so that When the carriage in the marking apparatus has advanced to thepoint where the brush 136 engages the 4th contact the solenoid will beenergized to arrest the rotational movement of the driving wheel to setthe printing wheel with the numeral 4 presented for printing. This isthe position of the apparatus as indicated in FIGURE 9. As seen in thisfigure the carriage is still advancing, however, limit switch 193 hasbeen closed, solenoid 160 has been energized by the engagement of brush186 with the 4th position contact to cause pawl 168 to engage theratchet toothed portion 144 on driving wheel 13% to arrest therotational movement of the latter and set printing wheel 98 so that thenumeral 4 is presented for printing. Limit switch 150, the ink pad, andthe closure plate have not as yet been changed.

The advancing movement of the carriage continues until all of thebrushes 186 have traversed all contacts on each of the switch elements182, at which time all of the printing wheels will be set to the properposition in the same manner as was printing wheel 98. At this point,just prior to inking, the forward movement of the carriage stops withall of the limit switches 150 now in their activated positions and theroller followers 262 and 264 positioned just rearward of cam surfaces210, the ink pad and closure plate still being in the fully loweredposition and the cam elements 270 and 272 still being in their fullycounter-clockwise position.

The carriage will remain in this intermediate at-rest position until thelimit switch 195 is closed by the abut ment thereagainst of an articleor carton to be marked. The carriage will then continue its forwardadvancing movement, and is shown in FiGURE 10 in a position just priorto the end of its stroke. Roller followers 262 and 264 have engaged camsurfaces 210' to raise the ink pad linkage arrangement in the mannerillustrated, L-shaped brackets 2E2 and 214 having been elevated androtated counter-clockwise to raise closure plate 250 out of the way ofopening 49. In addition, roller followers 239 and 232, on links 225 and228, respectively, have abutted the lower rearward surface of camelements 279 and 272, respectively, to rotate the latter in theclockwise direction, as shown. During the travel of the carriage fromthe intermediate at-rest position (whereat all the printing wheels wereset) to the position illustrated at FIGURE 10, the printing wheels wereadvanced into contact with the ink pad 222, whereby they becamesufiicient- 1y inked for printing an article or carton disposed adjacentend wall 49 in alignment with opening 49. As is apparent from FIGURES 9and 10, the ink pad 222 rotates in the counter-clockwise direction as itis raised, and this rotating motion greatly assists in the inkingoperation by virtue of the fact that the ink pad is, in eifcct, rolledacross the printing type on the printing wheels, rather than directlyimpacted thereagainst.

The carriage then advances to the fully advanced or printing position,as shown in FIGURE 11, wherein the printing wheels are projected throughopening 49 so that the numeral indicia thereon may be printed upon acarton disposed against end wall 49 in alignment with the opening 49, orin other words, disposed at the print ing station. It should be notedthat during the displacement of the carriage from the position indicatedin FIG- URE 1% to the position indicated in FiGURE 11, the rollerfollowers 239 and 232 have passed all the way beneath cam elements 274?and 272, respectively, to allow the latter to return to their fullycounter-clockwise positions. The purpose of this is to get the rollerfollowers in a position wherein they can engage the upper surface of thecam elements during the retracting movement of the carriage.

The printing operation having been completed, the carriage then beginsto retract, as shown in FIGURE 12. The ink pad 222 is maintained out ofengagement with the printing wheels during their retracting motion, toprevent the re-inking thereof, by the engagement of roller followers 236and 232 upon the upper surface of cam elements 276* and 2'72,respectively. Thus, as can be seen,

roller followers 230 and 232 prevent cam links 206 and As the carriagecontinues to move in the rearward direction roller followers 230 and 232pass over the pivoting points of cam elements 270 and 272, respectively,causing the latter to pivot in the clockwise direction into abutmentwith stop pins 280 and 282, respectively. Once the cam elements have sopivoted, the roller followers 23% and 232 assume a downward direction oftravel on the cam elements, thus lowering the ink pad 222 and closureplate 250.

The carriage continues its rearward movement until it reaches the fullyretracted position, as illustrated in FIG- URE 8. In approachingthisposition first limit switches are deactivated by roller followers 148,at which time the solenoids are dc-energized to allow the printingwheels to be reset, and finally when the fully retracted position isreached limit switch 193 is opened. During this last movement coilsprings 132 cause all of the printing wheels to be reset to the startingposition. In addition, the roller followers 23% and 232 have passed overthe forward ends of the cam elements to allow the latter to pivot totheir fully countenclockwise positions, by means of springs 278.

Having described the mechanical sequence of operation of the markingapparatus, attention will now be directed to the sequence of operationof the entire system, particular reference being given to the electricalcontrol circuit thereof, schematically shown in FIGURE 14. Although thepresent invention is of broader scope, as noted above, the embodiment ofthe system disclosed herein is directed to a weighing system utilizingany one of a number of commercially available weighing scales of thetype having an electrical digital read-out means. As is well known inthe art, weighing scales of this type are provided with a plurality ofmultiple position read-out switches, each switch being adapted to be setto a position corresponding to and representing a single digit of theweight of the article being weighed. Generally speaking, such weighingscales are provided with an electric motor for mechanically setting thereadout switches to represent the weight sensed or determined by theweighing scale. For exemplary purposes the present invention isdisclosed in conjunction with a Toledo scale, and accordingly, thecircuit disclosed in FIGURE 14 incorporates the circuitry alreadyexisting in Toledo scales of this type. As can be seen in FIGURE 14, thecircuitry. enclosed by the dotted line indicated at 10 is generally thecircuitry already existing in this commercially available scale,including its read-out means, and hence in itself forms no part of thepresent invention.

Considering generally the components shown in FIG- URE 14 there areshown limit switch 34, solenoids 154 through 160, limit switches 150,limit switch 193, limit switch 195, and motor 70, all of .whichcomponents have been described hereinabove. In this embodiment, it willbe assumed that the weighing scale has a capacity ofv 999 lbs., in whichcase solenoid 154 will control the hundreds digit, solenoid 156 willcontrol the tens digit, solenoid 158 will control the units digit, andsolenoid 169 will control the tenths digit. As described above, switchelements 182 having contacts 184 thereon, in combination with brushes186 constitute multiple position electrical switches, and for purposesof description will be designated as switches SW10 through SW13, forsolenoids 154 through 160, respectively. The multiple position read-outswitches disposed within the weighing scale are generally designated atSW14 through SW17 and are electrically interconnected with switches SW10through SW13, respectively. Each of these eight multiple positionswitches has at least 10 positions thereon, one for each digit from O to9, and as can be seen, each pair of switches are connected together inthe manner described earlier. Accordingly, each conductorconnectrepresenting the pounds determined by the. scale.

causing it to close.

ing orient the contacts ofaread-outswitch to the cor- .respondingcontact of corresponding .switch in themarking apparatus will controlthe value of a single digit,

located within the weighing scale and electrical read- .out means for.setting the readout switches is indicated at M1.

Thus, there is shown in FIGURE 14 aschematic wiring diagram of anexemplary circuit which may be used in the system of the presentinvention. An analysis of this circuit Will be helpful in gaining anunderstanding of the sequence of the entire system, as well as of themarking apparatus. When it is desired to operate the present system AC.power is applied across terminals A and B by means of an ordinary on-ofiswitch (not shown), the printer carriage being in its fully retractedposition in this time. The power across terminals A andB first causes acontrol relay CR1 to pull in, thus closing switches CRM and CR1]; andopening switch .CRlcq The closing of CRM then places control relay CR4under the control of limit switch 34, which limit switch is mounteduponthe weighing scale and adapted to be closed when a container is properlypositioned upon'the weighing platform of the scale. As noted earlier,limit switch 34 also may be used to stop the movement of conveyor belt16 when a container is properly positioned for weighing. Thus, when apart is transported onto the weighing platform 14 of the weighing scale10, limit switch 34 will be closed to thereby cause CR4 to pull in, thelattercausing switch CR la to move from the normally held-up position tothe down position,

SW2 to change positionand connect itself to the AC.

line instead of the 11C. line as indicated, this having no efiect asyet.

As motor Ml rotates it causes .the multiple position read-outswitchesSW14 through SW17 within the readout means 2% to be set to positionscorresponding to and After these switches are. set, switch SW3 is causedto change position to connect the DC. line to the motor M1, braking itto a stop. As motor Ml stops it trips switch SW4, Switches SW2 and SW3and'SW4 may be tripped by a suitably timed cam arrangement driven bymotor Ml, these details of construction not forming a part of thepresent invention but being a wellknown part of commercially availableweighing scales of the type described.

Since CRl'b isalready closed, the closing of SW4 serves to energize themultiple position switches SW16 through SW17 and to cause control relayCR2 to pull in, thereby opening switches CRZa and CRZb, and closingswitches CRZc, CR2d and CRZe, to start motor "Fit. The starting ermotor7fi starts the advancingmovement of the car riage in the markingapparatus to set the printing wheels and to close limit switch 193.Since the motorlvH has already set switches SW14 throughSW17 by closingthe contacts representing the value of the respective digits, asson-masthe corresponding .contacts are closed on switches SWltl throughSW13 by the advancing movement. of the carriage and brushes 1%, therespective tacts indicated at b in FIGURE 14 will be closed, therebyputting power across solenoid 154 to set the printing wheel in thatposition. Each of'the printing-wheels are independently set in exactlythe same manner. After each printing wheel is set .the limit switchassociated therewith is tripped by the continued movement of thecarriage, thus establishing a hold circuit for each solenoid so that thecontinued advancing movement of the carriage and brushes 186 will notopen the circuit through which power fiows to each solenoid. When thelast limit switch 15% is tripped CRi'Will drop out, thus opening CRlaand causing CR4 to drop out. When CR4 drops out CR ia then connects backto SW2, still connected to A.C. power, so that motor M1 is energized tocomplete its cycle by resetting switches SW14 through SW17 and returningSW3 to the AC. line. As this portion ofthe cycle is completed motor Mlcauses SW4 to be opened and SW2 to drop back to the DC. line to brakemotor M1 to a stop.

Since both SW4 and CRdb are now open again, CR2 will drop out, thusdisconnecting the AC. power from motor "/0 and applying D.-C. across itto brake it to a stop. At this point the printing apparatus is in itsfully set intermediate at-rest-position just priorto inking. Thisposition, as discussed above, is intermediate of the posi tionsillustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10. In addition, the weighing scale and theread-out means are fully reset. Note, however, that they are not resetuntil all the printing wheels are set, they being in a locked positionup to that point.

Since the marking apparatus is set very rapidly, the time consumed bythe cycle to this point is just slightly longerthan the time it took theweighing scale to determine the weight of the article or carton thereon.The carton to be printed is then transported from the weighing platformof the weighing scale to the marking station at the marking apparatus,thus releasing and opening limit switch 34. When the carton to beprinted abuts the forward face of end walldtl of the marking apparatusit trips and closes limit switch 1%. Since CRlc and limit switch 193 arenow closed, control relay CR3 is caused to pull in, thereby openingswitch CR3a and closing switches CR3]; and CRSc, the latter acting as ahold circuit to keep CR3 energized when limit switch 1% is open again,i.e. when the printed carton is transported away from the markingstation. The closing of CR3b causes CR2 to pull in and thereby restartmotor 70. The printer carriage then resumes its forward motion, inks theprinting wheels, prints on the carton presented at opening 49 indiciarepresenting the weight thereof, and then, by virtue of the crankaction, starts its return stroke. As the carriage moves in the rearwarddirection roller followers 143 trip their respective limit switches 150thus tie-energizing the respectivesolenoids. The tripping of limitswitches 150, however, does notcause CR1 to be pulled in because it islocked out by CREBa, which is now open. The carriage continues itsrearward movement until it'strikes and opens limit switch 193, in thefully retracted' position. The opening of limit switch 193 causes CR3 todrop out, in turn causing CR2 to drop out. The dropping out of CR2disconnects the A.C. from motor 79 and applies D.C. thereacross to brakeit to a stop. The dropping out'of CR3 also unlocks CR1, thereby causingit to pull in and reset the'circuitry for the next weigh and printcycle. When the printed container is transported away from the markingapparatus, limit switch 195 is again opened. At this point the entiresystem is fully reset and ready to repeat its cycle upon the closing oflimit switch '34 on the scale.

wAs-noted above, the circuitry is described solely for exemplarypurposes, to-show how the system of the present invention might beappliedin conjunction with a Toledoscale, and particularly with theinternal circuit therein. However, the marking apparatus of thisinvention is of much broader scope, and as will be appreciated,

aea ere .is. adapted to operate in response to a plurality of multipleposition switches, regardless of the manner in which these switches areset. For example, the present apparatus could be controlled by amanually operated conwould set the respective switches to any of thepositions desired, thus causing the remotely located marking apparatusto mark an article with indicia representing the information theoperator set the switches to represent. Other applications will, ofcourse, be apparent to those familiar with the art.

A second embodiment of the marking apparatus of the present invention isdiagrammatically illustrated in FIGURES l and 16. This embodiment isgenerally similar in principle of operation to the above described firstembodiment and thus is described and illustrated only diagrammatically.In the drawings there is illustrated, for purposes of clarity, only theapparatus necessary to set and operate a single printing wheel, it beingapparent that any number of printing wheels may be provided for bysimply an obvious duplication of parts. Thus, there is illustrated abase plate 306 provided at the forward end thereof with an upwardlyextending end wall 302 having an aperture 2W4 therein. A portion of oneof the longitudinal supporting members 3% is illustrated;

attached to the rearward face of end wall 3tl2. At the opposite end ofbase plate Sit-ii and secured thereto is an electric motor 368 having asuitable gear reduction unit 310 for driving a crank assembly, generallyindicated at 312, to which is pivotally secured a connecting rod 314. Ifdesired, connecting rod 314 may be provided with suitable shockabsorbing means to perform the function of the telescopic connecting rodarrangement of the first embodiment. Intermediate the ends of base plate3% there is provided an upwardly extending transverse partition 316having therein an opening 313 in which is disposed a bearing bushing 320for slidably receiving connecting rod 314 for reciprocal movement.

Rigidly secured to the free end of connecting rod 314, as by means ofconnecting member 322, is a carriage 32 Carriage 324 is provided with anend wall 326 and side walls 328, only one of which is shown. Betweenside walls 328 there extend shafts 330 and 332, both of which aremounted in a non-rotatable manner to the side walls. Rotatably supportedon shaft 336 is a driving wheel 334 having attached thereto a coiltorsion spring 336, which is at its other end is secured to anon-rotatable collar 33% on shaft 336 Spring 336 serves to urge thedriving wheel 334 in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in FIGURES l5and 16 Driving wheel 534.is very similar in construction to the drivingwheels of the first embodiment, and is provided with a gear toothedportion 340, a ratchet toothed portion 342, and a. downwardly extendingradial arm 344, at the lower end of which is pivotally secured a rollerfollower 346 adapted to engage a limit switch 343 on base plate 309.Rotatably secured to shaft 332 is a printing wheel 350 having thereonabout the periphery thereof type 352 for printing a plurality ofindicia. Fixediy secured to printing wheel 350 is a gear 354 whichmeshes with the gear toothed portion 346) on driving wheel 3-34. Theforward lower edges of side walls 328 are provided with roller members356 which ride on the upper surface of base plate 30% to facilitate thelongitudinal movement of carriage 324.

As can be seen, rotation of the crank assembly 312 by motor 368 willcause carriage 324 to move forwardly longitudinally along base plate 300until the forwardly facing type 352 on printing wheel 350 is projectedthrough opening 304- to print upon an article thereat, at which timecontinued rotation of the crank assembly will cause carriage 324 toreturn to the fully retracted position, il-

1-6 lustrated in FIGURE 15. As in the first embodiment, the advancingmovement of the carriage will cause driving wheel 334 to rotate or indexby virtue of the urging of roller follower 346 against limit switch 348by spring 336. This embodiment, however, differs from the firstembodiment in that instead of a longitudinally disposed switch elementthere is provided a circumferentially disposed switch element 358 havingthereon a plurality of equally spaced contacts 369 and being supportedabove driving wheel 334 by means of transversely extending mounting rods362 and 364. Driving wheel 334 is provided with a brush member 368 forscanning the contacts 365 in exactly the same manner as brush 186 scanscontacts 184, the circuitry for the two embodiments being identical.When the contact 360 which corresponds to the contact on the read-outswitch in the electrical readout means of the scale is reached, acircuit is closed energizing a solenoid 379 mounted upon end wall 326.The

plunger of solenoid 370 is provided with a pawl member 3'72 pivotallysecured thereto, the pawl member being pivotally supported upon atransversely extending mounting rod 374 so that it will engage ratchetteeth 342 when the solenoid is energized. Thus, as in the firstembodiment, the energizing of solenoid 3750 will cause the rotational orindexing movement of driving wheel 3 34 and hence printing wheel 350, tobe arrested, to thereby set the printing wheel so that the indiciathereon presented for printing corresponds to the weight sensed by theweighing scale and recorded on the read-out switches therein.

In this embodiment the setting of the printing wheels is effected duringthe advancing movement of the carriage just as in the first embodiment.Thus, upon the initial advancing movement of the carriage brush 368 willstart scanning contacts 360 until the proper contact is reached, atwhich time solenoid 370 will set the printing wheel. When all of theprinting wheels have been set the apparatus will come to rest just priorto the inking operation, as in the first embodiment. As soon as anarticle to be marked has been transported to the printing position thecircuit is activated to cause the carriage to continue its advance,thereby inking the printing wheels and cans ing them to print upon thearticle the desired indicia, after which the carriage retracts.

In this embodiment, it will be noted that a different inking arrangementis used. Thus, there is provided a suitable ink pad 376 secured betweenthe lower ends of a pair of pivoting links 378, the upper ends of links378 being pivotally secured to supporting members 3%, only half of thisstructure being shown. Links 378 are biased in a downward direction bymeans of torsion springs 38% and are provided with roller followers 382adapted to engage a cam surface 384 on the front edge of side walls 328.As can be seen, inking is achieved by the direct abutment of the type352 against the ink pad 376, whereupon thelatas is readily apparent.switches similar to limit switches 1-93 and of the first ter is raisedout of position by the engagement of roller followers 382 upon camsurfaces 384. During the retracting movement of the carriage, ink pad376 is lowered in the same manner it is raised, and thus, unlike thefirst embodiment, will re-ink the type. While this is not particularlydesirable, it does serve to reduce the'complex'ity of the structurenecessary to support the ink pad. In FIGURE 16 the apparatus isillustrated in the advanced position with the printing wheel 350partially projecting through aperture 364 ready to print the numeral 4.

This second embodiment, of course, is capable of being utilized in allapplications in which the first embodiment may be used, such as thosedisclosed above. In'addition, the circuitry for the two embodiments maybe identical, In this regard, suitable limit embodiment would be mountedupon partition 316 and adjacent end wall 302, respectively, to beresponsive to the forward movement of the carriage and the positioningof an article for printing, respectively, for the same purpose as in thefirst embodiment.

7 In FIGURES 17 and 18 there is illustrated a third embodiment of amarking apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention. Inthis embodiment the setting of each printing wheel is effected by meansof a Geneva wheel mechanism which is driven through an electricallyoperable clutch mechanism by a suitable electric motor. Generallyspeaking, when it is desired to set the printing wheels, the electricmotor is energized to thereby cause the Geneva mechanisms to index therespective printing wheels through their consecutive positions. Throughthe use of circuitry similar in prinicpl-e to that u-tilized'in theabove described embodiments, each Geneva wheel causes a plurality ofcontacts to be scanned while it is indexing, and when the contact isengaged which corresponds with the contact in the corresponding readoutswitch in the weighing scale, a circuit is completed which disengagesthe electric clutch to thereby set the Geneva wheel and the printingwheel driven thereby to a position wherein the proper indi-cia ispresented for printing. Thus, in this circuit an electrical clutch isenergized instead of a solenoid, as in the previously describedembodiments.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 17 and 18, it will be noted thatfor purposes of clarity only a portion of this embodiment isdiagrammatically shown, specifically that apparatus which is concernedwith the setting of a single printing wheel. Thus, there is provided abase plate 400 longitudinally supporting a pair of elongatedlongitudinal support members 402, only a portion of one of which isshown. Rotatably secured to the inner side of support members 402 are aplurality of rollers 494 positioned in a horizontal line therealong. Itis the func tion of these rollers 404 to support for longitudinalmovement the carriage which, in this embodiment, comprises a pair ofparallel disposed mounting plates 486, only one of which is shown.

Mounting plates 4% are maintained in a parallel relationship by means ofa transversely extending rear support member 408 extending therebetween.In addit'on. there is provided a U-shaped member 410, the le s of whichare secured to the outer lower sides of mounting plates 406 to furtherhold them in position. The outer side of the le s of U-shaped member 410are provided with a pair of parallel disposed longitudinally extendngmembers 412 and 414 defining a channel therebetween adapted to receivein rolling engagement rollers 04. The transversely extending portion ofU-shaped member 410 is provided with a coupling member 416 into which isrigidly held a connecting rod 418, as by means of a conventional setscrew or the like. Connecting rod 418 is provided at its opposite end,as through suitable shock absorbing means, with a conventional crankmechanism (not shown) for reciprocating the carriage, the latter beingsupported for substantially frictionless movement upon rollers 434. Atthe forward end of base plate 400 there is provided a verticallyextending end wall 42%) having an aperture 422 therein through which theprinting wheel may be projected for printing upon an article disposedadjacent the forward surface thereof.

Rigidly secured to transverse member 493 is a suitable electric motor424, the drive shaft of which extends through an opening in transversemember 438 and is provided with a bevel gear 426. Electric motor 424serves to rotate ashaft 428 disposed between mounting plates 406 bymeans of a bevel gear 430 rigidly secured to shaft 428 and engagingbevel gear 426.

Operatively associated with shaft 428 is an electrically operable clutchmeans 431 which, when not energized, serves to interconnect a drivinggear 432 with shaft 428 to be driven thereby. When clutch means 431 isenergized it serves to disconnect driving gear 432 from shaft 428 toprevent further rotation of thegear by the shaft. Intermeshing with gear432 and adapted to be driven thereby, is a. Geneva. drive wheel 434which is :rotatably mounted 18' upon a transversely extending shaft 436,disposed be tween mounting plates 406.

Geneva drive wheel 434 is provided with a suitable drive pin 438 fordriving a conventional Geneva wheel 44f), mounted for rotation upon ashaft 442 disposed between mounting plates 496. Also rotatably mountedupon shaft 442, for rotation with Geneva wheel 440, is a gear 444 whichmeshes with an idler gear 446 rotatably supported upon a transverselyextending shaft 448 disposed between mounting plates 406. Idler gear446, in turn engages, to thereby drive, a gear 459 rigidly affixed to aprinting wheel 452. Both gear 450 and printing wheel 452 are mounted forfree rotation upon a shaft 454 extending transversely though the legs ofU-shaped member 410 and mounting plates 4% and held in position by meansof a threaded nut or the like 456. As can thus be seen, when electricmotor 424 is energized and electric clutch means 431 is not energized,the rotation of the motor drive shaft will be transmitted into anindexing movement of the printing wheel 452 by virtue of the Genevawheel mechanism. The energizing of clutch means 431, however, will causethe printing wheel 452 to be set, even though the electricmotor 424 maycontinue to rotate. As will be appreciated, any number of printingwheels and associated driving mechanisms may be provided, simply byduplicating the apparatus illustrated. In any case, however, only asingle motor 424 would be required, since a separate clutch means wou dbe provided for each printing wheel.

As noted earlier, the princple by which the printing wheels are set isgenerally the same as that for the pr ceding embodiments.Thus, there isprovided a switch element 453 having afiixed thereto a plurality ofcontacts 460, disposed in a circular pattern. Switch element 453 is alsoprovided with a circular contact 462 of annular configuration. As willbe appreciated, switch element 458 is equivalent to switch elements 182and 358 in the previously described embodiments. Switch element 453 -issupported adjacent and parallel to Geneva wheel 440 by means of fourtransversely extending support rods 464, mounted at their opposite endsto mounting plates 4%. On the side of Geneva wheel 44% adjacent switchelement 458, there is provided a contact or brush member 466 which isadapted to always engage annular contact 462, and to scan contacts 469during the indexing movement of the Geneva wheel. Thus, during theindexing movement of the Geneva wheel brush member 466 will electricallyinterconnect annular contact 462 with consecutive contacts 468, so thatwhen the brush member'466 contacts the contact 460 corresponding to theposition of the read-out switch in the weighing scale a circuit will beenergized to cause clutch means 431 to disengage gear 432 from shaft 428to thereby set the printing wheel 452.

For inking the printing wheel after it has been set there is provided anink pad 468, supported between a pair of upwardly extending links 470,the lower ends of which are pivotally secured to base plate 4% by meansof pivot pins 472 projecting from lugs 474 mounted on the base plate.Only half of this linkage arrangement is illustrated since the otherhalf is identical in all respects. Links 470 are provided withtransversely extending slots 476 through which project pins 478 disposedupon the outer ends of a pair of arms 484i rotatably secured upon shaft454 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Links 470 are biased toward theupstanding position, illustrated in solid lines, by means of torsionsprings 482. Each torsion spring 482 at one end abuts a suitable pin 484on lug 474 and at the opposite end a pin 4% mounted upon the link 470,as best seen in FIGURE 17.

Inking is achieved when the carriage is advanced by the abutment cf theprinting wheel upon the ink pad 468. Further advancing movement of thecarriage, however, causes pins 478 to engage the far ends of slots 476to pivot links 470 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen suchequipment.

in FIGURE 17, to a position wherein the ink pad 468 is out of the pathof travel of the printing wheel 452. This latter position is illustratedin phantom lines in FIGURE 17. When the carriage retracts the ink pad463 is lifted to its original position by means of springs 482 and theaction of pins 478. Thus, in FIGURE 17 the apparatus is illustrated withthe carriage in its fully retracted position.

As will be appreciated, in this embodiment, as illustrated, the printingwheels must be set either before or at the beginning of the advancingmovement of the carriage. However, other modes of operation should bereadily apparent. For example, an inking arrangement such as thatutilized in the second embodiment might be provided, in which case thecarriage could be retracted to a more rearward position than illustratedin FIGURE 17. In such a modification, the printing wheels could then beset during the advancing movement of the carriage, rather than beforeit, in the same manner as in the preceding embodiments. This might beeffected, for example, by causing the forward movement of the carriageto trip a limit switch to thereby energize electric motor 424 to startthe setting operation. In any case, circuitry suitable for thisembodiment will be apparent to one skilled in the art having anunderstanding of the principles and operation of the circuitry describedin detail above with respect to the first and second embodiments.Actually, the above circuitry could be somewhat simplified for thisembodiment since once the multiple position switches are set they stayset upon continued forward motion of the carriage, and since in thisembodiment it is not necessary that the printing wheels be reset foreach cycle, due to the fact that they are adapted for continuous fullrotation. Of course, provision would have to be made for the fact thatthere is a second motor (424) in this embodiment, in addition to the onenecessary for reciprocating the carriage, and for the fact that no limitswitches similar to limit switches 151) in the first embodiment areutilized. As will be apparent, however, the timing of the operation ofmotor 424 is not particularly critical since once the printing wheelsare set, continued operation of the motor will in no way effect thissetting because all the electric clutch means will have been energizedto disconnect the motor from the printing Wheels.

In summary, there has been disclosed herein a novel marking systemembodying the principles of the present invention, as well as severalmodifications thereof. In addition, there has been disclosed in detailthree embodiments of a novel marking apparatus which may be utilized inconjunction with the above system, but which, in themselves, alsoconstitute a part of the present invention. As has been noted, thepractical applications of the present invention are practicallylimitless, the weighing system disclosed herein being only exemplary ofsuch applications. The flexibility of the present system and markingapparatus is also apparent. In this regard, even greater flexibility maybe achieved by providing the marking apparatus herein with replaceableor interchangeable marking wheels and switch elements, whereby anynumber of indicia may be marked by each of the marking wheels, dependingon the particular application contemplated. While the present disclosureis concerned with an application of the present invention in conjunctionwith a Toledo weighing scale, it is to be recognized that there areother commercially available weighing scales having electrical read-outmeans which are also ideally suited to use with the present invention.In addition, completely different type equipment for determining othercharacteristics of an article, also having electrical read-out means,are readily available. The present invention is ideally suited for usein conjunction with any sideration that should not be overlooked is thatsome commercially available equipment is not provided with In thisregard, probably the main con- 20 internal means for locking and holdingthe information determined and recorded thereby. The Toledo scaledisclosed herein is an apparatus generally of this type, and thus it wasnecessary to so design the circuitry that the information recorded uponthe read-out switches would be held or locked in position until themarking wheels of the marking apparatus had been set. Similarconsideration must be given to other similar equipment. Sensing andrecording equipment which is provided with internal locking means may beembodied in the system of the present invention through the use ofcircuitry which is much simpler than that disclosed herein. In any case,such adaptations are well within the knowledge of one skilled in the arthaving an understanding of the principles of the present invention.

Thus, there is disclosed in the above description and in the drawingsseveral exemplary embodiments of the present invention which fully andeffectively accomplish the objects thereof. However, it will be apparentthat variations in the details of construction may be indulged inwithout departing from the sphere of the invention as herein described,or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for determining the weight of an article and directlymarking on such article indicia representing the determined weightthereof, comprising: a fixed sensing station having means thereat forsensing and recording information representing the weight of an articlepositioned at said station; means for transporting an article to saidstation; marking means adapted to be set to any one of a plurality ofpredetermined positions and operable to mark an article with any one ofa plurality of indicia depending on how said marking means is set; andoperat ing means responsive to said recording means and controlled bythe information recorded thereby for setting said marking means andoperating said marking means to cause it to mark upon said articleindicia representing the determined weight thereof.

2. A system for determining characteristics of an article and directlymarking on such article indicia representing the determinedcharacteristics thereof, comprising: a. fixed sensing station havingmeans thereat for sensing and recording information representingcharacteristics 01" an article positioned at said station; means fortransporting an article to said stattion; marking means adapted to beset to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions and operable tomark an article with any one of a plurality of indicia depending on howsaid marking means is set; and operating means responsive to saidrecording means and controlled by the information recorded thereby forsetting said marking means and advancing said marking means into contactwith said article to mark upon the latter indicia representing thedetermined characteris tics thereof, said marking means being set inresponse to the advancing movement thereof.

3. A system for determining characteristics of an article and directlymarking on such article indicia representing the determinedcharacteristics thereof, comprising: a fixed sensing station havingmeans thereat for sensing and recording information representingcharacteristics of an article positioned at said station; means fortransporting an article to said station; marking means adapted to be setto anv one of a plurality of predermined positions and operable to markan article with any one of a plurality of indicia depending on how saidmarking means is set; a geneva wheel mechanism for indexing said markingmeans from one of said predetermined positions to another: and operatingmeans including clutch means operable in response to said recordingmeans and controlled bv the information recorded thereby to stop theindexing of said marking means to set same, and means for oper-- atingsaid marking means to cause it to mark upon said. a i e indiciarepresenting the determined characteristics,- thereof.

4. A system for determining the wei ht of an article and directlymarking on such article indicia. representing the weight thereof,comprising: a fixed sensing station having astationary weighing scalethereat for weighingan article positioned at said station; means fortransporting an article to said station; recording means includingmultiple position electrical switch means operably associated with saidstationary weighingscale and adapted to be positioned thereby to recordthe weight of said article; marking means adapted to be set to any oneof a plurality'of predetermined positions and operable to mark anarticle with any one of a plurality of indicia depending on how saidmarking means is set; and operating means including an electricalcircuit having said switch means therein, responsive to said recordingmeans and controlled by the position of said switch means for settingsaid marking means and operating said marking means to cause it to markuponsaid article indicia representing the weight thereof.

5. A system for determining the weight of an article and directlymarking on such article indicia representing the weight thereof,comprising: a fixed sensing station having a stationary weighing scalethereat for weighing an article positioned at said station; means fortransporting an article to said station; recording means includingmultiple position electrical switch means operably associated with saidstationary weighing scale and adapted to be positioned thereby to recordthe weight of said article; marking means adapted to be set to any oneof a plurality of predetermined positions and operable to mark anarticle with any one of a plurality of indicia depending on the way saidmarking means is set; and operating means including an electricalcircuit having said switch means therein, responsive to said recordingmeans and controlled by the weight recorded thereby for setting saidmarking means and advancing said marking means into contact with saidarticle to mark upon the latter indicia representing the weight thereof,said marking means being set in response to the advancing movementthereof.

6. A system for determining the weight of an article and directlymarking on such article indicia representing the weight thereof,comprising: a fixed sensing station having a stationary weighing scalethereat for weighingan article positioned at said station; means fortransporting an article to said station; recording means includingmultiple p sition electrical switch means operably associated with saidstationary Weighing scale and adapted to be set thereby to record theweight of said article: marking means adapted to be set to any one of apluraiity of predetermined positions and operable to mark an articlewith any one or a plurality of indicia depending on the way said markingmeans is set; a geneva wheel mechanism for indexing said marking meansfrom one position to another; and operating means responsive to saidrecordingmeans and controlled by the Weight recorded thereby for settingsaid marking means and operating said marking means to cause it to markupon said article indicia representing the weight thereof, saidoperating means including an ele trical circuit having said switch meanstherein and clutch means operable by said electrical circuit to stop theindexing of said marking means to set same.

7. Means for directly marking articles with indicia representing certaininformation recorded at a remote location, comprising: a fixed sensingstation having means thereat for sensing information representingcharacteristics of an article positioned at said station; recordingmeans at said fixed sensing station including multiple positionelectrical switch means responsive to and operable by said sensing meansto be so positioned as to represent information sensed by said sensingmeans; means for transporting an article to said fixed sensing station;a marking station spaced from said sensing station and having meansthereat for marking an article thereat, said marking means adapted to beset to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions and operable tomark said article with any one of a plurality of indicia depending onhow said marking means is set; means for transporting an article fromsaid sensing, station to said marking station; and operating meansresponsive to said recording means and controlled by theinformationrecorded thereby for; setting said marking means andoperating saidmarking means to cause it to mark upon an article thcreatindicia representing the determined characteristics thereof, saidoperatingrmeans including an electrical circuithaving said switch meanstherein.

8. Remotely set means for directly marking articles with indiciarepresenting certain information recorded at a remote location,comprising: recording means adapted to have information recordedthereat; marking means adapted to be set to any one of a plurality. ofpredeterminedpositions and operable to mark an article with any one of aplurality of indiciadepending onhow said marking means issct; andoperating, means responsive to said recording means and controlled bythe information recorded thereat for setting said marking means, andadvancing said markingmeanstowards an article to mark upon the latterindicia representing said information, said markingmeans being set. inresponse to the advanc ing movement thereof.

9; Means as claimed in claim 8, wherein said operating means includesmotor means for advancing said marking means and simultaneously indexingsame from one of said predetermined positions to another,.and whereinsaid operating means further includes means responsive to said recordingmeans for stopping the indexing movement of said marking means to setsame.

10. Remotely set means for directly marking articles with indiciarepresenting certain information recorded at a remote location,comprising: recording means adapted to have information recordedthereat; marking means adapted to be set to any one of a plurality ofpredetermined positions and operable to mark an article with any one ofa plurality of indicia depending on how said marking means is set; aGeneva wheel mechanism for indexing said marking means from one of saidpredetermined positions to another; and operating means including clutchmeans operable in response to said recording means and controlled by theinformation recorded thereby to stop the indexing of said marking meansto set-same, and means for operating said marking means to cause it tomark upon said article indicia representing the determinedcharacteristics thereof.

11. A marking apparatus for directly marking upon articles indiciarepresenting recorded information, comprising: means defining a markingstation; a reciprocating carriage adapted for advancing movement to andretracting movement from said marking station; motor means forreciprocating said carriage; marking means on said carriage adapted tobeset to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions relativethereto and operable to mark an article with any one of a plurality ofindicia depending on how said marking means is set, said marking meansbeing adapted to mark an article at said marking station when saidcarriage is advanced thereto; indexing means for causing said markingmeans to be moved consecutively through said predetermined positionsrelative to said carriage while said carriage is advancing; and settingmeans for arresting the movement and setting said marking means when ithas indexed to aposition for marking the specific indiciairepresentingthe recorded information, whereby when said carriage is advanced to saidmarking station it will cause said marking means to mark said specificindicia directly upon an aritcle at said marking station.

12. A marking apparatus for directly marking upon articles indiciarepresenting information recorded on a multipleposition electricalswitch, comprising: means definmg'a marking station; a reciprocatingcarriage adapted for advancing. movement to and retracting movement fromsaid manking station; motorg'means for reciprocating said carriage;marking means on said carriage adapted to. beset to any one of,ap'luralityof predetermined positionsrelative-thereto androperable tomarktan

8. REMOTELY SET MEANS FOR DIRECTLY MARKING ARTICLES WITH INDICIAREPRESENTING CERTAIN INFORMATION RECORDED AT A REMOTE LOCATION,COMPRISING: RECORDING MEANS ADAPTED TO HAVE INFORMATION RECORDEDTHEREAT; MARKING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE SET TO ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OFPREDETERMINED POSITIONS AND OPERABLE TO MARK AN ARTICLE WITH ANY ONE OFA PLURALITY OF INDICIA DEPENDING ON HOW SAID MARKING MEANS IS SET; ANDOPERATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID RECORDING MEANS AND CONTROLLED BY THEINFORMATION RECORDED THEREAT FOR SETTING SAID MARKING MEANS ANDADVANCING SAID MARKING MEANS TOWARDS AN ARTICLE TO MARK UPON THE LATTERINDICIA REPRESENTING SAID INFORMATION SAID MARKING MEANS BEING SET INRESPONSE TO THE ADVANCING MOVEMENT THEREOF.